Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today participated in the 200th anniversary celebration of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal, Gujarat. Addressing the gathering through video conferencing, he said it was with the grace of Shree Swaminarayan that the 200th anniversary celebrations were being held. Welcoming all the disciples from across the globe, Shri Modi remarked that service is foremost in the tradition of Swaminarayan Mandir and the disciples were immersed in the service today. The Prime Minister said he was pleased to see the celebrations in the media recently. 

Noting that the 200th year celebrations in Vadtal dham was not  mere history, Shri Modi remarked that it was an event of a huge importance for many disciples including him who had grown up with utmost faith in Vadtal Dham. He added that this occasion was a testimony to the eternal flow of Indian culture. Shri Modi underlined that even after 200 years of establishing the Vadtal Dham by Shree Swaminarayan, the spiritual consciousness has been kept alive and the teachings and energy of Shree Swaminarayan can be experienced, even till date. Shri Modi extended his warm greetings to all the saints and the disciples on the 200th year celebrations of the Mandir. The Prime Minister was pleased that the Government of India had released a silver coin of Rupees Two hundred (200) and a postal stamp of the memorial. He added that these symbols will keep the memories of this great occasion alive in the minds of generations to come. 

The Prime Minister underlined that every individual related to the Swaminarayan is aware of his strong personal, spiritual and social relationship with this tradition. He added that he enjoyed the divine company of the saints in the past as well as now along with the opportunity for meaningful reflection for the development of the nation. The Prime Minister remarked that he could not attend the event in person due to other engagements, however, he was mentally present at Vadtal dham.

Shri Modi remarked that revered saint tradition has been the specialty of India and a sage or saint or Mahatma had always appeared during difficult times. He added that Lord Swaminarayan had also come at a time when the country had become weak after hundreds of years of slavery and had lost faith in itself. Shri Modi highlighted that Lord Swaminarayan and all the saints of that period not only gave a new spiritual energy, but also awakened our self-respect and revived our identity. He emphasised the contribution of ShikshaPatri and Vachanamrit was huge in this direction and it was the duty of all of us to imbibe their teachings and take them forward. Shri Modi said he was pleased that Vadtal Dham had become a great inspiration with a huge contribution to the service of humanity and building of a new era. He added that the same Vadtal Dham had given great disciples like Sagaram ji from the deprived society. Shri Modi underlined that today many children were given food, shelter, education along with services and projects in the far-flung tribal areas were being undertaken by the Vadthal Dham. He added that important campaigns like female education in the tribal areas were being undertaken. Shri Modi highlighted the other services of Vadtal Dham like serving the poor, building a new generation, preserving the Indian culture by combining modernity and spirituality. Shri Modi lauded the saints and devotees of Vadtal Dham for never disappointing him and undertaking the campaigns ranging from cleanliness to environment for a better future. He added that they had accepted it as their own responsibility and engaged in fulfilling it with all their heart and soul. Shri Modi also noted that the disciples of Swaminarayan tradition have planted more than one lakh trees under the Ek Ped Maa ke Naam campaign. 

The Prime Minister remarked that every person has a purpose in life which also determines one’s life. He added that this purpose influences our mind, action and words and when one finds the purpose of life, then the whole life changes. He said that saints and sages have made people aware of the purpose of their life in every era. Shri Modi highlighted the huge contribution of saints and sages to our society and added that when the whole society and country unites to fulfil a purpose, it would definitely be accomplished. He added that there were many examples of the same. The Prime Minister underlined that the religious institutions had today given a huge purpose to the youth and the whole country was moving forward with a defined goal of developed India. Shri Modi urged the saints and sages of Vadtal and the entire Swaminarayan family to take this sacred purpose of developed India to the people.Citing a reference of the freedom movement, the Prime Minister said that the desire for freedom, the spark of freedom kept inspiring the countrymen from different corners of the society for a century and not a single day or single moment passed when people gave up their intentions of freedom, their dreams, their resolutions. He added that the same kind of desire which was found in the freedom movement, was necessary for 140 crore countrymen every moment for a developed India. He urged all the saints and disciples to inspire people that for the coming 25 years to live the goal of a developed India and keep ourselves connected to it every moment. The Prime Minister further emphasised that everyone should contribute to developed India irrespective of their place. He added that the first condition for a developed India was to make it a self-reliant India and no outsider was needed to achieve this but for the 140 crore citizens of India. Shri Modi urged the disciples present at the event to contribute by promoting Vocal for Local. Highlighting the importance of unity & integrity of the country for a developed India, Shri Modi remarked that vested interests were conspiring to destroy the society. He added that it was imperative to understand the seriousness of this attempt to defeat such attempts in an united manner.

Shri Modi emphasised Lord Shri Swaminarayan’s teachings of how big goals are achieved through hard penance, how a young mind has the ability to take a decisive direction to build the nation and how the youth can and will build the nation. He added that for this, it was necessary to create competent, capable and educated youth. Shri Modi underlined that empowered and skilled youth is the biggest strength for a developed India. He also added that the global demand for India’s youth will increase further. The Prime Minister highlighted that the demand of skilled manpower of India in the world was huge and the whole world was attracted by the strong youth power of India. He expressed confidence that these youth will not only be ready to fulfil the needs of the country but also the world .Highlighting the efforts of Swaminarayan sect on de-addiction, Shri Modi urged the saints and disciples to contribute in keeping the youth away from addiction and making them drug-free. He added that campaigns and efforts to save the youth from drug addiction are always necessary not just in India but across the globe and had to be done continuously.

Remarking that any country can progress only when it's proud of its heritage and preserving it, Shri Modi said “India’s mantra is development as well as its heritage”. Shri Modi was pleased that the glory of thousands of years old India’s heritage centres was being redeveloped which was once considered destroyed, citing the example of Ayodhya. He also cited the examples of the transformation of Kashi, Kedarnath, Pavgadh, Sun temple of Modhera, Somnath. He added that a new consciousness and a new revolution was evident all around. Shri Modi also noted that hundreds of years old stolen idols of Gods and Goddesses were being returned to India. Citing the re-development project of Lothal, the Prime Minister remarked that the campaign of cultural consciousness was not only the Government's responsibility but of all the citizens who love this land, this country, who love its traditions, who take pride in its culture, who praise our heritage. Shri Modi was pleased that Akshar Bhuvan, a museum of artefacts of Lord Swaminarayan in Vadtal Dham, was also a part of this campaign. Congratulating the congregation, Shri Modi expressed confidence  that Akshar Bhuvan will become a grand temple of India's immortal spiritual heritage.

Shri Modi remarked that the objective of a developed India will be achieved easily only when 140 crore Indians join together to fulfil a common objective. He added that the guidance of our saints was very important in completing this journey. The Prime Minister urged all the saints, who had come from across the globe, to spread the word about Purna Kumbh, held every 12 years and a beacon of India’s heritage, to the world. He requested the saints to educate the people across the world and explain it to the foreigners of non- Indian origin about the Purna Kumbh to be held in Prayagraj. He urged them to try to get at least 100 foreigners from each of their branches abroad to visit the upcoming Kumbh Mela with great reverence. He added that this will be a task of spreading awareness in the whole world which could be done with ease by the saints.

Concluding the speech, Shri Modi apologised for being unable to be present in person and wished all the saints and disciples of Swaminarayan Mandir for the bicentenary celebrations. 

Background

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the 200th anniversary celebration of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal, Gujarat on 11th November 2024, through video conferencing. Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Vadtal has been influencing the social and spiritual life of people for many decades.

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MJPS/SR